Gadkari scoffs at bugging report, Cong forces 2 adjournments of House

New Delhi, Jul 30(PTI): Union minister Nitin Gadkari insisted on Wednesday that the reports about his residence being bugged were “false and baseless”, even as the controversy let to the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, Gadkari said initially it was reported that bugging devices were found at his Delhi residence. But later it was claimed that listening devices were found at his Mumbai residence.

”Whatever is being written is false and baseless,” he said.

The Minister had earlier also stated that no devices were found at his residence.

On Wednesday, the Congress created an uproar in the Rajya Sabha today over the reports, forcing two adjournments.

According to a media report, highly sophisticated listening devices were planted at the residence of Gadkari.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said there was no truth in those reports.

The Congress members demanded an impartial probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Singh, however, said no complaint has been lodged either by the Minister or anybody else on the issue.

“There is no truth in media reports,” he said. “The Minister too has termed the reports as baseless and factually incorrect,” the Home Minister said, adding no high-powered listening device was found.

Earlier, when the Rajya Sabha met for the day, Anand Sharma (Cong) said bugging of cabinet ministers is a serious matter and it should be discussed in the House.

He said the issue of call records of then Leader of the Opposition and now Leader of the House Arun Jaitley being allegedly accessed unauthorisedly was discussed in the House.